8-4-07 Malachi 3:3

Malachi 3:3 (NAS)
And He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

Malachi 3:3 (NRSV)
He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the LORD in righteousness.

The Lord God has made His abode with you. He lives and dwells in you because He has chosen you for His very own. However, before He could come to stay and remain with you, He had to change you. He had to make you worthy to receive His presence.

He, therefore, tests and purifies you. Like a smelter and goldsmith, Adonai works with you to make you clean and pure. He has longed for you from the very foundation of the world; you are as precious to Him as silver. He has brought you into His family, adopting you as a son. He has made you into a great champion.

He has called you to serve Him, as the Levites served Him in the tabernacle. Like those priests, you are privileged to stand in His presence and to offer your sacrifices unto Him. He has joined you to Himself, bestowing on you His brilliance and His splendor. You shine like the purest gold and silver, for He has purged you, straining out every impurity.

So now you can draw near to Him in confidence. You have an intimate relationship with Jehovah, just like a Father and son. You, therefore, from your heart of love and gratitude, bring the Lord gifts and offerings. The tribute you give Him stems from your new righteous nature--the nature that you received from Him through His grace and mercy. You are blessed as His son; You are doubly blessed to be His minister. Rejoice that He has chosen you, trusting you with both positions!

8-3-07 1 Thessalonians 1: 2-4

1 Thessalonians 1: 2-4 (NAS)
We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

1 Thessalonians 1: 2-4 (Philips)
We are always thankful to God as we pray for you all, for we never forget that your faith has meant solid achievement, your love has meant hard work, and the hope that you have in our Lord Jesus Christ means sheer dogged endurance in the life that you live before God, the Father of us all. We know, brothers, that God not only loves you but has selected you for a special purpose.

1 Thessalonians 1: 2-4 (NRSV)
We always give thanks to God for all of you and mention you in our prayers, constantly remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters beloved by God, that he has chosen you,

Those who know you are grateful for your life and your walk with God. They see His grace resting on you, for you display His joy and peace. When the Lord brings you to their remembrance, they lift you up in prayer, giving thanks for you always.

Your work in God's Kingdom is something of which many take note. Your faith is evident in what you do and what you say. You have a strong conviction of the truth that Yeshua is the Messiah, who has obtained your eternal salvation. You labor in God's Kingdom even when confronted with trouble and toil. You maintain your faith even when you are wearied and fatigued.

You love God dearly, holding Him in your heart with deep affection. Your faith is steadfast and enduring. You are patient and constant even under the severest trials and sufferings. Nothing can swerve you from your God given purpose. You maintain your hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, expecting Him to deliver you. You know He only desires your good.

Adonai Himself has picked you out, choosing you for His own special purposes. He decided to bless you because of Jesus. You are always under His gracious oversight. He has chosen you to stand before Him and to speak and affirm His will. In this you do well, always bringing glory to the One who is your salvation

8-2-07 Leviticus 9:23

Leviticus 9:23 (NAS)
And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting. When they came out and blessed the people, the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people.

Leviticus 9:23 (NRSV)
Moses and Aaron entered the tent of meeting, and then came out and blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people






Like Moses and Aaron, you are a leader of the people of God. Adonai drew Moses to Himself and He has drawn you as well. God ordained Moses to deliver His people from Egyptian bondage and He has ordained you to set His people free from the bondage of sin.

After their deliverance, the children of Israel needed someone to guide and direct them to seek the Lord their God. Adonai chose Aaron for that special purpose. Aaron became the Lord's first high priest. He was the one who brought light to tribes of Israel. Like Aaron, God has chosen you to bring light to His people. He has shone His light in your heart through His word and you let that light shine.

Moses and Aaron spent time in the tabernacle of God. They entered His habitation, His dwelling place, and there they received clarity to perform what the Lord required of them. You, also, have learned to spend time in His presence where you are filled and illuminated anew.
You then can go out in strength to stand with purpose before the congregation of the righteous. There you will bless them, introducing them to the One whom you adore. And He will reward you with the glory of His presence.

Through you, they will see the honor, the dignity, the abundance and riches that He has poured into your life. You will lead them into the deliverance and freedom for which they long and you will stand with them against the enemy. Jehovah has set you as His priest and light-giver, one whom He trusts to minister and serve His beloved.

8-1-07 Exodus 18:21, 2 Samuel 23:2

Exodus 18:21 (NAS)
Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens.
2 Samuel 23:2 (NAS)
The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue.

Exodus 18:21 (NRSV)
You should also look for able men among all the people, men who fear God, are trustworthy, and hate dishonest gain; set such men over them as officers over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens.
2 Samuel 23:2 (NRSV)
The spirit of the LORD speaks through me; his word is upon my tongue.

The Lord has chosen you to lead His people; He knows that you are strong and mighty. He knows your abilities and how efficiently you carry out His commands. You are a prime example of someone who fears and stands in awe of Jehovah. You always honor and respect Him and His wishes.

You have proven yourself to be faithful and reliable. You abide by God's truth, speaking and living it daily. It has established and made you firm and sure. You hate unjust gain or any profit acquired by violence. You do not succumb to covetousness and greed.

Because of your character, God has appointed and ordained you to rule His people and to extend His compassion to them. You are able to teach them His precepts. He has given you the power to govern as His representative.

He has breathed His Spirit on you. Through Him you have courage, vigor, and patience. He gives you warlike energy and administrative power. He is the fragrance of your life.

Now Jehovah uses your tongue to speak His commands and His promises. Through your words and your songs you declare His precepts. Your speech puts the enemy to flight, not only in your life, but also in the lives of others. You are able to persuade men and bring them back to One who can restore their lives. What an awesome responsibility and a joyful privilege!

7-31-07 2 Samuel 22:20

2 Samuel 22:20 (NAS)
He also brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me.

2 Samuel 22:20 (NRSV)
He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

Satan tries to keep you hemmed and squeezed into a small, tight place. He often pushes you between "the rock and the hard place." He wants you to believe that there is no way out of any adverse situation. He tries to change your thinking to his way. He lies and tells you that there is no way God can deliver you; the enemy says that it is impossible.

You, however, know that nothing is impossible with God; the only requirement that you have is to believe it. God desires to take you from that narrow, confined circumstance. He desires to deliver you to a broad and roomy place. He wants you to go forward. Instead of looking at that "rock and hard place", look to the Rock and put your trust in Him. Go forward into that wide expanse that Adonai has promised you-- a place where you will be enlarged and receive abundance.

God always promises to come to your aid when you look to Him for help; for He delights and takes pleasure in you. Not only will He deliver you, but He will also equip and arm you for future confrontations. He will make you strong, bracing you up with His word and His Spirit. Instead of being defeated again and again, Adonai will allow you to plunder the enemy, carrying away all of his goods.

7-30-07 Hebrews 7: 15-17

Hebrews 7: 15-17 (NAS)
And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of Him, "THOU ART A PRIEST FOREVER ACCORDING TO THE ORDER OF MELCHIZEDEK."

Hebrews 7: 15-17 (NRSV)
It is even more obvious when another priest arises, resembling Melchizedek, one who has become a priest, not through a legal requirement concerning physical descent, but through the power of an indestructible life. For it is attested of him, "You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek."

Hebrews 7: 15-17 (Philips)
How fundamental is this change becomes all the more apparent when we see this other priest appearing according to the Melchizedek pattern, and deriving his priesthood not by virtue of a command imposed from outside, but from the power of indestructible life within. For the witness to him, as we have seen, is: Thou are a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek

A priest arose who was not of the priestly tribe; He, in fact, existed before that tribe had been established. Likewise, another has arisen not of Levi, the priestly tribe. It has become abundantly clear that the former was Melchizedek and the latter is Yeshua (Jesus), the Messiah. These two are of similar nature, resembling and corresponding to each other. Jesus Christ comes from Melchizedek's order of priesthood. Like Yeshua, Melchizedek is a priest of the Most High God and also a king of righteousness.

Neither of these priests came into existence through the fleshly, carnal nature of man. No merely human charge established them in their offices. Jesus and Melchizedek received their being through the strength and power of Almighty God. Neither was subject to destruction nor overthrow, for their lives are endless and everlasting. The life they possess has such vital power that death has no hold on them.

God's word bears witness, giving testimony, to Jesus and to His everlasting priesthood. Perpetually and incessantly He will be of this order. Adonai appointed and ordained Him for this office, from the beginning unto eternity. Jesus Christ, like Melchizedek, is a King and a Priest. He reigns in righteousness and ministers peace (shalom) to His followers.

7-20-07 1 John 2:15, 16

1 John 2:15, 16 (NAS)
Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
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1 John 2:15, 16 (Philips)
Never give your hearts to this world or to any of the things in it. A man cannot love the Father and love the world at the same time. For the whole world-system, based as it is on men’s desires, their greed ambitions and the glamour of all that they think splendid, is not derived from the Father at all, but from the world itself.

1 John 2:15, 16 (NRSV)
Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world.

Since you live here on earth and were born of the dust of this earth, it is natural that you would have a certain affection for the things of this world. However, God's word exhorts you against this. You are not to be too well pleased or contented here. Anything that the world offers is hollow, frail, and fleeting. Worldly things have the power to stir your desires and to seduce you away from Adonai. They are obstacles in your path.

Accumulating this world's goods can give you the false sense that you can take care of and provide for yourself; you begin to believe that through your own efforts you can obtain the promised "blessing". Focusing on what you can do, your own ability, keeps you from the love of God. The more you focus on "you" the less the love of God is in you.

You should not crave or desire those things that are forbidden. Do no lust after things to satisfy your sensuous nature. Do not cater to your earthly nature, which is prone to sin and opposed to God. Do not let your eyes dictate to your desires. Do not brag and make empty boasts about your own power and resources. By trusting in yourself, you show that you despise God's word and you violate His precepts. Such "pride" causes you to believe that you can sustain your own life, instead of trusting the Lord for your very breath.

Therefore, do not give in to your earthly passions and desires. They are only opposed to God. Instead daily place your life in your Father's hands, trusting Him to provide everything you need to maintain your life. Live in His love and not by your lusts. In this you will do well.